Aoife Wafer revels in 'crazy' Six Nations Player of the Tournament gong as Ireland's World Cup adventure looms large
In a sign that being named Women's Six Nations Player of the Year is still sinking in, Aoife Wafer reached for the adjective "crazy" more than once as she reflected on the honour on Wednesday evening.
The Ireland flanker was announced as the winner on Monday, earning 41% of the fan poll, and ultimately seeing off competition from the other nominees, England winger Abby Dow, France second row Manaé Feleu and Scotland back row Evie Gallagher.
Coming out on top in a shortlist alongside that trio was something the 22-year-old was not expecting.
"It's a bit crazy to be honest. They're all phenomenal athletes and there's so many people that could have and should have been nominated as well," she told RTÉ 2fm's Game On.
"We've so many superstars on our team as well, so to be nominated is class and then to get the fan support and to be voted as the best player in Six Nations is pretty undescribable to be honest."
The Wexford native topped a host of statistical tables during the 2025 tournament, making 70 carries - the most of any player - for a staggering 424.7 metres, beating 17 defenders in the process, the second highest of any forward in the championship. And that's not mentioning her four-try haul.
"Thankfully I've been able to put out a couple of good performances but I still have so much to learn," she said.
"At the end of the day I'm only 22 and I'm really excited for even what's to come at the end of the year in the World Cup, so it's a bit crazy to be honest."
Ireland finished third in the tournament and while Wafer sees areas for improvement, she felt that Scott Bemand's team have made clear strides with the World Cup looming in August when they will share a pool with New Zealand, Spain and Japan.
"Personally, I'd look at it as probably some of those games got away from us and it could have potentially been a tournament that we finished second instead of third in the likes of if we'd beat France and if we'd beat Scotland and then put a bit more competition in England," she said.
"But there are so many positives to take from it as well. We've come such a long way in the two years that Scott's been over us and it's a completely changed side to what was pre Scott's era.
"The end of this year is going to be incredibly exciting but we'll definitely have to take some learnings from this year's Six Nations and kind of be a bit more... like taking chances in those scoring zones because we want to beat Tier One nations and it's not every often that you get those chances when you're in their '22 so you have to take every one of them."
And amid reports in the Irish Indepedent about a potential move to English club Harlequins after the World Cup being on the verge of fruition, Wafer was coy about the prospect and switched the spotlight onto her recovery from injury.
"I'm just trying to get back from my knee (injury). I haven't seen anything yet," she said.
"I picked up an injury there against Wales so I'm just doing everything I can to get back from it and try to put my hand up for selection again for the World Cup."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
38 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
De Bruyne breaks Welsh hearts in seven-goal thriller
Wales suffered a dramatic 4-3 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium as their incredible comeback from three goals down eventually proved in vain. Kevin De Bruyne was the Belgium match-winner two minutes from time to deny Wales a precious point in Brussels. Belgium had seized complete control inside 27 minutes as Romelu Lukaku, with a controversial penalty, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku silenced the loud 4,500-strong following from Wales. But Harry Wilson gave Wales hope from the spot on the stroke of half-time, and cool finishes from Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson turned the tie on its head. Almost every goal had a laborious VAR check and a late Lukaku effort was chalked off - resulting in both Wales manager Craig Bellamy and his Belgium counterpart Rudi Garcia being booked - but there was no saving the visitors as De Bruyne volleyed home at the far post. Wales had lost top spot in Group J before kick-off courtesy of North Macedonia's win in Kazakhstan. Bellamy's unbeaten record would also disappear - exactly a year to the day since Wales had lost for the last time - in his 10th game in charge. It was a duel between familiar foes with this being their 11th meeting in 13 years. Neco Williams was absent after being taken off on a stretcher in Friday's victory over Liechtenstein, and Bellamy made three changes with Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Jordan James recalled. Aston Villa midfielder Tielemans led a Belgian team who featured several faces well known to Premier League fans. Bellamy had promised a bold approach and Thomas was positive in the first minute to deliver a cross into the six-yard box that no-one in the middle could get on the end of. But Wales crumbled in the space of 12 minutes after Johnson was adjudged to have handled De Bruyne's powerful shot. It appeared a harsh decision as Johnson's arm was close to his body, but Lukaku rolled the penalty home with ease. Belgium worked an overload down the right four minutes later and Maxim De Cuyper found Tielemans, who stroked the ball high past Karl Darlow in the Wales goal. Matz Sels instantly denied David Brooks one-on-one at the other end, and the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper shovelled aside Ben Davies' follow-up effort. But Belgium menaced with every attack and Doku broke clear to set up De Bruyne, who was inches away from adding another. Doku's footwork had dazzled and Wales had no answer when the Manchester City winger cut inside Davies. Darlow got a hand to the low shot, but could not prevent it from crossing the line. De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard were booked for cynical fouls on Johnson as Wales revived, and the visitors were given hope in first-half stoppage time. Sels made contact with Mepham's head as he attempted to fist away a Thomas corner and Wilson claimed his 14th international goal from the penalty spot. Dodi Lukebakio missed a sitter within seconds of his half-time arrival and Belgium were punished when Wilson spotted Thomas unmarked on the left. The new Stoke signing kept his composure to fire under Sels for his first Wales goal. Wales wanted more and substitute Mark Harris sent a golden chance wide. Johnson nodded the leveller after Thomas had headed Wilson's cross back across goal, but De Bruyne had the final word to break Welsh hearts. Elsewhere, sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side laboured to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday, but took charge for one final time at the Stadio Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia. Italy struggled early on before Raspadori put the hosts ahead five minutes before the break and Cambiaso doubled the lead five minutes after the interval but they failed to build on their two-goal cushion. Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games. In Group L, Croatia hammered Czechia 5-1. Andrej Kramaric gave Croatia the lead just before half-time but Tomas Soucek got an equaliser 13 minutes after the break. A Luka Modric penalty gave Croatia back the advantage and they sealed the win with goals from Ivan Perisic, an Ante Budimir penalty, and a second from Kramaric.
Irish Independent
39 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Luis Diaz's Liverpool future in doubt as Colombian winger reveals he's ‘talking to clubs'
The Colombia international has two years left on his current deal and this week the Reds rebuffed an approach from Barcelona, who are long-time admirers, insisting the player was not for sale. However, it is understood there are currently no plans to open negotiations about an extension for Diaz, who turned 28 in January. 'We are currently in contact with Liverpool, because we are talking to clubs, and that's normal given the transfer market that's opening. We're trying to arrange what's best for us,' he told a press conference before Colombia's World Cup qualifier at home to Peru. 'We're talking to clubs, it's normal in the market and we're looking at what's best for us. 'I'm waiting to see what happens. I'm very happy at Liverpool, I've always said so. They've welcomed me very well from day one. 'If they give us a good renewal or I stay there for two years, I'll be happy. Now it's up to them.'
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Have expectations been set too high for Ireland after mixed Nations League group?
IT STARTED AND finished with 1-0 wins at home, but Ireland bookended their Uefa Women's Nations League group campaign quite differently. The opener was a scrappy, unconvincing victory over Türkiye at Tallaght Stadium in February, marking Carla Ward's first game in charge in a period of much change. The closer brought the best performance of her tenure, a dominant triumph against Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, albeit just by the minimum — and revenge, of sorts, for the 4-0 humbling in Koper in game two. It wasn't enough to usurp the Slovenians atop Group B2 and secure automatic promotion: Ireland will go head-to-head with Belgium for League A status in the playoffs in October. The expectation at the outset was Ireland would easily win the group, like they did under Eileen Gleeson in 2023. 'But we didn't have Slovenia,' Ward warned in February. 'The teams are closer, but naturally we want to win all six and I'm sure I'll have a lovely summer.' She had to settle for five, and much to ponder ahead of two international friendlies against USA later this month, and the campaign-defining playoff against Belgium. In the autumn of 2023, Gleeson's side made light work of Northern Ireland, Hungary and Albania as they enjoyed a 100% record, scored 20 goals and conceded two. Slovenia, Türkiye and Greece were better opposition this time around as standards rise across Europe, but this was a patchy series as Ireland scored 10 and conceded six. Have expectations been set too high? Ward believes the team overachieved by reaching the World Cup in 2023, while they have certainly punched above their weight at times through the years. The Koper horror show was a wake-up call for Irish women's football as a whole, as we wrote at the time, with wider development coming into question. That will only continue as head of women and girls' football Hannah Dingley exits after an underwhelming year in the job, but the team, at least, appear to have put that shocking result in the rear-view mirror. Advertisement Ireland head coach Carla Ward and assistant head coach Alan Mahon during that defeat to Slovenia. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO The last few months have been a rollercoaster for the Irish women's game. Failure to qualify for Euro 2025 was a gut-punch last December, with the FAI opting for a change of management thereafter. The exit of Gleeson, and more so Colin Healy, dominated the headlines for weeks on end, the external noise undoubtedly taking a toll, with Ward appointed in the thick of it all. That wasn't the only major squad change: Ireland lost a combined total of 395 caps as Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn and Julie-Ann Russell all retired. Much has been made of the transition, leadership void and Euros play-off hangover, along with changes of system and style. Ireland had been wedded to a back three/five and direct approach under Gleeson, Vera Pauw and Colin Bell, with Ward preferring possession-based, attacking football in a fluid 4-3-3. Players have made no secret of their wishes to play a more expansive game, but the collective technical ability has been questioned in some quarters. Patience has been urged. Defensive solidity has always been Ireland's DNA, and this was often lost sight of in recent months. The quest to improve going forward seemed to come at the expense of strength at the back. They were torn apart too many times, not just in the first Slovenia implosion as player and positional experimentation backfired spectacularly. A four-goal second-half salvo away to Greece was the other end of the scale, attacking encouragement evident against lowly opposition. A balance was struck to good effect against Slovenia in Cork. 'Probably the way I'd put it would be a Carla Ward team on the ball and an Irish mentality off the ball,' the manager said afterwards. 'That's what we need to build on. If we want to play in an exciting way going forward, and that's the way I like my teams to play, we have to be better off the ball. 'The Irish have always been very good defensively. So let's go back to the Irish basics. It's tight, it's compact, it's together. And then add in how we want to play with the ball. 'If we can combine the two, the future is bright.' In all, Ward used 21 players through the six games. The former Aston Villa boss appears to have not yet settled on her first-choice XI, while the first and last matches were the only in which she didn't make half-time changes. Courtney Brosnan, Anna Patten and Denise O'Sullivan played every minute, while Aoife Mannion and Lucy Quinn started five games before injury and illness hampered their involvement in the finale. Katie McCabe was also a mainstay, barring suspension and an injury concern in the Greece double-header. The captain and Champions League winner is unavailable for the upcoming US friendlies — 'she's on the verge of burnout,' as Ward said — and several other players are unlikely to travel. That squad selection will be interesting, the door potentially open for younger and fringe players, and League of Ireland talent. Ireland captain Katie McCabe. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Acid tests await against Emma Hayes' world number one in Colorado (Thursday 26 June) and Cincinnati (Sunday 29 June), but development will be stressed in these games ahead of the all-important playoff in October. Belgium are a consistent force in League A, and are preparing for this summer's Euros, grouped with world champions Spain, Italy and Portugal. Ireland will be disappointed watching from afar, the sense of missed opportunity deepening, but they must focus on the next job. Elísabet Gunnarsdótti's side are 20th in the world rankings, six places above Ireland, while the highlight of their mixed Nations League group campaign was a 3-2 win over European champions England. Belgium won 1-0 the last time they played Ireland in an international friendly in April 2021, and they'll have home advantage in the second leg, but Ward and co. will hope to upset the odds, return to League A, and in turn, boost their 2027 World Cup qualification chances. Maintaining a balance between Carla Ward football and the Irish way is the aim going forward. Compromise is key. The jury is still out on this first campaign. Only after October's playoff can definitive conclusions be drawn.
